Missouri, February 18- Average retail gasoline prices in Missouri have risen 19.4 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.62/g yesterday, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 3,940 gas outlets in Missouri. This compares with the national average that has increased 11.9 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.68/g, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.

Including the change in gas prices in Missouri during the past week, prices yesterday were 25.6 cents per gallon higher than the same day one year ago and are 55.9 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has increased 42.2 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 16.7 cents per gallon higher than this day one year ago.

"The steady climb of retail gas prices is likely to continue following double-digit increases in wholesale prices with fuel production tightening in the majority of the country's refineries," said GasBuddy.com Senior Petroleum Analyst Gregg Laskoski. "Los Angeles has climbed to $4.28 per gallon with a 55-cent average price increase in the past month, and that rate was surpassed in Chicago ($4.09 average price) and Detroit ($3.86 per gallon average), where motorists saw 63- and 64-cent respective increases over the same period. New York crossed the $4 threshold too."